with sandy bearing down, president obama and mitt romney are hopscotching through battleground states for every vote. in this down-to-the-wire race, how is it that both guys are so confident? >>> extreme shoplifting. caught on tape. look at this. a suitcase filled with $1,000 in steaks. this guy hiding items in a neck brace. how the thieves are now working in teams and making everything more expensive for you. ♪ happy birthday to you >>> and best birthday ever. we'll tell you how a mall worker managed to convince 1980s rock legend billy idol to play at his birthday party. this man went through extraordinary lengths, launching a two-year campaign to meet his idol. and we were there overnight, exclusively, for the big payoff. >>> you learn something new every morning on this broadcast. the superstorm, abc meteorologist, ginger zee, in florida this morning, tracking what could be a once-in-a-century event. we'll get to her in a moment. >> that's right. sandy is groening strength. a 900-mile behemoth storm. and for many, today is the calm before the storm. a last chance to stock up, bat